My cat "won" the jackpot of illnesses

[jwirth1998]

My beautiful,sweet 13 year old boy Phoenix was just diagnosed with CHF as well, caused by HCM. He was perfectly fine Wednesday morning, but became suddenly lethargic Wed evening. We rushed him to the ER where we were told it was CHF and he had a substantial amount of fluid pulled from around his heart. As I decided to say me goodbye, he perked up and seemed to feel much better. I couldn't do it. I was referred to a cardiologist located 1.5 hours away. We spent the next day there having every test done that could be done. Phoenix has one functioning kidney left along with several other ailments that are not currently causing any clinical signs. We left with the intent to treat the CHF as much as possible. I have tried everything to get his meds into him. I have had cats my entire life and never had a problem pilling one or medicating one for 30 years. Phoenix just will not. The 2 times I have gotten them down, he throws them up. He has eaten dry food his entire life, but loves moist food. I've crushed and hidden in there, tried pill pockets, crushed his favorite treats and rolled them up. He refuses. I refuse to have him mad at me and I can't bear the thought of his last days with me to be hiding/running from me or not talking to me. I have decided to make him as comfortable and happy as possible. He has always been spoiled anyway I've cried for days, but I won't torture him or allow him to suffer. I'm counting his breaths multiple times per day. When I see the increase begin, I will let him go peacefully. He is himself for now except that he is only awake for 10 minutes per hour on average. He has been right by my side since about 4 hours after the last torturous medicine episode. He has told me he is ready (yes I know he can't speak). I pray that I am able to let him go peacefully before a blood clot or something worse comes up. He has been there for almost all of my adult life, every move, every relationship, my marriage, and the birth of my daughter. I can't imagine the morning to come when he isn't there to wake me up or the afternoon when he isn't at the front door waiting for me. I pray that your sweet baby continues to feel better! I never knew how horrible this disease could be.

 

[chloechance]

Sorry to hear about your sweet baby.

I cannot explain my cats diagnosis other then l feel she is a miracle. Follow your heart. I never felt it was her time and l did not give up. But l do know when the time comes l hope l am still strong enough to let go and do whats right for her.

 

[jwirth1998]

Thank you so much miracles do happen! It is always nice to see them come to life! These past few days with my sweet baby has been a miracle for me.

I hope your baby continues to do well and I will pray for your strength if it is needed, but I am sure you will find it

 

[fodder]

My beautiful,sweet 13 year old boy Phoenix was just diagnosed with CHF as well, caused by HCM. He was perfectly fine Wednesday morning, but became suddenly lethargic Wed evening. We rushed him to the ER where we were told it was CHF and he had a substantial amount of fluid pulled from around his heart. As I decided to say me goodbye, he perked up and seemed to feel much better. I couldn't do it. I was referred to a cardiologist located 1.5 hours away. We spent the next day there having every test done that could be done. Phoenix has one functioning kidney left along with several other ailments that are not currently causing any clinical signs. We left with the intent to treat the CHF as much as possible. I have tried everything to get his meds into him. I have had cats my entire life and never had a problem pilling one or medicating one for 30 years. Phoenix just will not. The 2 times I have gotten them down, he throws them up. He has eaten dry food his entire life, but loves moist food. I've crushed and hidden in there, tried pill pockets, crushed his favorite treats and rolled them up. He refuses. I refuse to have him mad at me and I can't bear the thought of his last days with me to be hiding/running from me or not talking to me. I have decided to make him as comfortable and happy as possible. He has always been spoiled anyway

I've cried for days, but I won't torture him or allow him to suffer. I'm counting his breaths multiple times per day. When I see the increase begin, I will let him go peacefully. He is himself for now except that he is only awake for 10 minutes per hour on average. He has been right by my side since about 4 hours after the last torturous medicine episode. He has told me he is ready (yes I know he can't speak). I pray that I am able to let him go peacefully before a blood clot or something worse comes up. He has been there for almost all of my adult life, every move, every relationship, my marriage, and the birth of my daughter. I can't imagine the morning to come when he isn't there to wake me up or the afternoon when he isn't at the front door waiting for me. I pray that your sweet baby continues to feel better! I never knew how horrible this disease could be.

Damn that's rough. Sorry things aren't going well. No cat likes taking pills and they very rarely eat them on their own. They are too damn smart most of the time to just hide it in food.
One trick iv found that works pretty much every time is, firstly, if the pill is large chop it up in to smaller pieces and feed them one at a time. Secondly, and most important is, have a syringe filled with water at hand. Open their mouth and tilt their head back then get the pill in there. Do your best to get the pill as far back in their mouth as you can. I usually put it on the end of one finger then put it as far back on the back of the tongue as i can get it, it's harder for them to spit it out when its at the back. Once its in close their mouth again with your fingers and keep it closed until you have the syringe ready. Now get the syringe and squirt a very small squirt in from the side of their mouth. This will force them to swallow with almost no drama involved. 

I have a notorious pill spitter. She once bit me so hard while trying to administer a pill that she cracked my thumb nail in half! Boy did that hurt! This method with the syringe though makes it super easy.
I hope it works for you. That medication could make quite a difference.
Good vibes your way.

 

 

[jwirth1998]

Damn that's rough. Sorry things aren't going well. No cat likes taking pills and they very rarely eat them on their own. They are too damn smart most of the time to just hide it in food.

One trick iv found that works pretty much every time is, firstly, if the pill is large chop it up in to smaller pieces and feed them one at a time. Secondly, and most important is, have a syringe filled with water at hand. Open their mouth and tilt their head back then get the pill in there. Do your best to get the pill as far back in their mouth as you can. I usually put it on the end of one finger then put it as far back on the back of the tongue as i can get it, it's harder for them to spit it out when its at the back. Once its in close their mouth again with your fingers and keep it closed until you have the syringe ready. Now get the syringe and squirt a very small squirt in from the side of their mouth. This will force them to swallow with almost no drama involved. 


I have a notorious pill spitter. She once bit me so hard while trying to administer a pill that she cracked my thumb nail in half! Boy did that hurt! This method with the syringe though makes it super easy.

I hope it works for you. That medication could make quite a difference.

Good vibes your way.  

 

[jwirth1998]

Ouch! thank you so much. The best way so far has been to break them all up and put into one small capsule and follow with a little water, but he just goes into the bathtub and throws up thank you for the kind words!

 

[Columbine]

J jwirth1998 Have you tried liquid meds? My pill-averse boy found liquid meds far easier to take. Before we tried that, we were taking him to the vet every other day for injections instead - he found that less stressful than pilling!

Another option is to go to a compounding pharmacy. Not only can they (usually) make yummy flavoured liquid meds for you, they can sometimes provide a transdermal cream that you apply to the base of the ear. Very few cats object to that.

Lastly, most meds can be given via injection. If that's something you're comfortable with, you can ask your vet to teach you how to do it that way. There are always options [article="22402"][/article][article="32724"][/article]

 

[chloechance]

So l just wanted to give an update. We are going on 4 mos since diagnosis. Chloe is doing okay. I have noticed more gurgling in her purring. So l was giving her otc water pills 1x a week but my mom had a left over 20 mg prescripition of Lasix so l will be giving her that 2x a day now. She still gets her potassium supplement and her hawthorne/dandelion. I have been reading CQ10 is good for the heart. Thinkibg about adding that it.
I know l shouldnt self medicate without vet advice but they also said she had a few weeks at most. So l will keep trucking along with my regime of drugs.

My only concern is l leave for vacation April 29. Although my neighbors will be over to check on them a few times a day l still worry. I will have her meals all prepared w meds. And l cannot stress about it. I will be out of the country. Nothing l can do but keep my fingers crossed she is ok while l am away.

 

[chloechance]

Update: My vet has prescibed spironolactone in 1/4 pill 2x a day to see if this helps relieve the fluid. It will not cause a potassium deficiency. With that said if ot doesnt work she will need a trip to the animal hospital for further meds and care. My local vet does minor illnesses and surgeries but they are not equipped to handle more serious complications that require a specialist.

Hopefully Chloe story gives people hope who are dealing with the same issues. Never thought 4 months later she would still be hanging on.

 

[chloechance]

I have not updated in awhile.

Chloe continued to do well for months. We kept up with the potassium supplements 2x a day and 1/4 tablet of spironoloctane 2x a day as well. Chloe had ups and downs. Each time she was down in a few days she would be ok again.
Last week Chloe began to suffer from hypokalemia again despite supplementation. I upped her dosage just a bit hoping for improvement. Chloe did not perk up. By friday l knew something about this time was different. I felt like she was losing the battle. Although she continued to eat she was lethargic and weak. Saturday l decided if no improvement by monday then her time had come.
However this morning, Chloe urinated in my bed. There was a very small trace of blood. She then yawned and l noticed 2 sores in her mouth. Googling it appeared due to severe hypokalemia she could be in beginning stages of kidney failure. I made the gut wrenching heart breaking decision to end Chloes pain.
She went peacefully. I will forever cherish these 15 months with her. Here we thought her heart would take her first but it appears the tumor won. After euthanizing the vet said in his 45 yrs in practice he never came across a cat with an adrenal gland tumor. He said its so rare most vets never see it.

What l hope people take away from Chloes story is hope. When all hope was lost - we fought. I followed Chloes que. In the end Chloe won. She fought a very rare disease for 15 mos on top of having CHF. She is a strong girl who is running free from her pain.
#nevergive up #fightlikeagirl #blessedshewasmine

 

[Antonio65]

C chloechance ,
I'm so sorry to read this post so late!!!
It sounds like your Chloe had the same illness that my Lola had. A cancer to her right adrenal gland that lowered her potassium level. This led to a total weakness, she couldn't keep her head up, nor walk.
The illness has a name, hyperaldosteronism, it is very rare indeed.
My vets told that in the last 35 years or so not more than 40 cases had been diagnosed in the whole world. This means a single case each year in the whole world is diagnosed.
She was diagnosed in April 2016, after 2 months of wrong diagnosis from different vets.

My cat Lola was successufully operated in July 2016 after a first previous attempt that failed because she was so weak that no sedation was possible.
She was supplemented with potassium for some weeks, she also had to take the prilactone.

She died to a cancer in her mouth a year later...

Her whole story is in a thread of mine.

I'm so sorry!!!

 

[di and bob]

Bless their little hearts for fighting so hard. May their little souls soar pain free forevermore.

 

[chloechance]

C chloechance ,
I'm so sorry to read this post so late!!!
It sounds like your Chloe had the same illness that my Lola had. A cancer to her right adrenal gland that lowered her potassium level. This led to a total weakness, she couldn't keep her head up, nor walk.
The illness has a name, hyperaldosteronism, it is very rare indeed.
My vets told that in the last 35 years or so not more than 40 cases had been diagnosed in the whole world. This means a single case each year in the whole world is diagnosed.
She was diagnosed in April 2016, after 2 months of wrong diagnosis from different vets.

My cat Lola was successufully operated in July 2016 after a first previous attempt that failed because she was so weak that no sedation was possible.
She was supplemented with potassium for some weeks, she also had to take the prilactone.

She died to a cancer in her mouth a year later...

Her whole story is in a thread of mine.

I'm so sorry!!!

Wow. As weird as it sounds its nice to finally talk with someone who has experienced this. I searched high and low and never could find any stories.

This tumor is so rare in fact many vets will not even operate bc its so complicated. One of Chloes vets said he would never attempt it esp since its a rare procedure and the outcome can be grim but he agreed that the other Dr in the practice was the man for the job as he loved tricky surgeries.
I also am not in 100% agreement that she couldnt sirvive surgery even w the heart problem but def understood their concern. They told me the tumor would most likely be slow growing and benign and her heart disease would take her first. Turns out it was the tumor.
I feel like Chloe gave me this extra year and l needed it badly. In May my mom had a heart attack and had major surgery. 5 days later l had my appendix out. It was a rough summee but having my babies so close made it easier. Then in July l decided to get a kitten. I figured maybe it would ease the pain when she passed. It does. But their is still an emptiness in my heart and home.

I am so sorry for your loss too. Its so hard to go threw that and in the end she lost her battle too. I think in the end l made the right decisions. I chose a hollistic approach and a lot of love to mend her. And she was never expected to live this long and she did! In the end Chloe won the good fight.

 

[Antonio65]

Wow. As weird as it sounds its nice to finally talk with someone who has experienced this. I searched high and low and never could find any stories.

As a matter of fact I, too, searched the web for similar experiences, I wanted to know more about it and the outcomes for the surgery, but I only found two scientific articles.

This tumor is so rare in fact many vets will not even operate bc its so complicated. One of Chloes vets said he would never attempt it esp since its a rare procedure and the outcome can be grim but he agreed that the other Dr in the practice was the man for the job as he loved tricky surgeries.
I also am not in 100% agreement that she couldnt sirvive surgery even w the heart problem but def understood their concern. They told me the tumor would most likely be slow growing and benign and her heart disease would take her first. Turns out it was the tumor.

My vets told me it wasn't a routine surgery and only a few qualified surgeons in the whole country could perform it and I was sent to a amazingly equipped clinic far away, where a surgeon came from a long distance just for my cat.
The surgeon told me that it was the first time he operated a similar situation in his life.
The surgery was at high percentage of risk, I was told that the success rate was around 75-80 %, but I had no choice but to go on!

Be proud of your Chloe, she fought like a warrior against something that few persons in the world have seen, it was sort of a mysterious evil enemy!
Be proud of yourself for how you managed the situation and for what you did with so little information.
If you want to discuss with me about the hard battle you have gone through, you can PM me whenever you want.

Take much care!

 

[chloechance]

As a matter of fact I, too, searched the web for similar experiences, I wanted to know more about it and the outcomes for the surgery, but I only found two scientific articles.



My vets told me it wasn't a routine surgery and only a few qualified surgeons in the whole country could perform it and I was sent to a amazingly equipped clinic far away, where a surgeon came from a long distance just for my cat.
The surgeon told me that it was the first time he operated a similar situation in his life.
The surgery was at high percentage of risk, I was told that the success rate was around 75-80 %, but I had no choice but to go on!

Be proud of your Chloe, she fought like a warrior against something that few persons in the world have seen, it was sort of a mysterious evil enemy!
Be proud of yourself for how you managed the situation and for what you did with so little information.
If you want to discuss with me about the hard battle you have gone through, you can PM me whenever you want.

Take much care!

I had to go to a specialist and was quoted $5,000. I did not have that kind of money. I was devastated. I cried all the way home. Then someone in my kickboxing class mentioned a vet in NJ (l am in PA) that l should call and see. The doctor who owns the practice had me send over all her records. As he stated, its not as simple as, yes l can do it. He said l need to know if its still small enough, make sure it hasnt spread, and that risk of complications for surgery are low. He said he had sone this surgery a few times but with good results. He said often too the tumors are benign which was promising. When he reviewed her records he said it seemed promising and he could do it for $2500. I was floored. I felt relief. I opened up a credit card just to do the surgery. And then bam just 48 hrs later l got the news she had heart disease and he could not risk operating.
It was such an emotional rollercoaster. He said l should go to a cardiac specialist bc of her heart and w meds if it got stronger maybe down the road surgery would be an option bc the tumor wouldnt grow fast. Here is the kicker. In August Chloe began vomiting and l took her back to my local clinic. They could not locate a murmur. They said she was clear of fluids or at least they did not hear anything. So thats why l wonder if her heart wasnt as bad and maybe she could of survived surgery.
Again, no regrets. I still got a lot of time with her but it will never make me stop wondering about the alternative. I appreciate your kind words.

 

[Antonio65]

You have nothing to regret, you trusted your vets, they probably were wrong, they detected a heart murmur that wasn't there months later. What could have you done different?

My Lola had her surgery done at a special clinic, an animal hospital, far from where I live.
The surgery was 2,500 euro, but there were other expenses, like the CT scan, the several blood tests during that week, the meds, the hospitalization and so on, for a total of about 4,500 euro.
I had already spent nearly 2,000 euro three months earlier for the first attempt of surgery that wasn't done because of Lola's poor physical conditions.
Another 2,000 euro were payed for the many visits and tests while other vets failed to diagnose her.
In six months I spent around 8,000 euro!
And I spent all that money hoping that she would have lived after that surgery. And she survived, but another cancer was working in the backstage and the vets didn't notice it.

I lived the same rollercoaster of emotions. I was going to lose my Lola because nobody knew what she had, then they found out what it was and it could have been fixed, then again no because she was too weak, then she recovered and went through surgery, then the new cancer, the little hopes for a healing, the shocking news she wouldn't survive, and the months before her death...
All in 14-15 months.

I wasted away along with her.

 

[chloechance]

You have nothing to regret, you trusted your vets, they probably were wrong, they detected a heart murmur that wasn't there months later. What could have you done different?

My Lola had her surgery done at a special clinic, an animal hospital, far from where I live.
The surgery was 2,500 euro, but there were other expenses, like the CT scan, the several blood tests during that week, the meds, the hospitalization and so on, for a total of about 4,500 euro.
I had already spent nearly 2,000 euro three months earlier for the first attempt of surgery that wasn't done because of Lola's poor physical conditions.
Another 2,000 euro were payed for the many visits and tests while other vets failed to diagnose her.
In six months I spent around 8,000 euro!
And I spent all that money hoping that she would have lived after that surgery. And she survived, but another cancer was working in the backstage and the vets didn't notice it.

I lived the same rollercoaster of emotions. I was going to lose my Lola because nobody knew what she had, then they found out what it was and it could have been fixed, then again no because she was too weak, then she recovered and went through surgery, then the new cancer, the little hopes for a healing, the shocking news she wouldn't survive, and the months before her death...
All in 14-15 months.

I wasted away along with her.

Wow that is a lot of money. So very sorry the outcome wasnt what you thought it be. I was willing to spend a bit but knew my limit. I only work part time.

My other cat this past Sept got "sick" we ran so many test (blood work several times, ultrasound, xrays, blood again). He wasnt eating (and he is already small to begin with but dropped to 6lbs), didnt groom himself, withdrew. I was like omg wtf is going on with my cats! He spent 2 days in hospital. I maxed out credit cards. And finally said enough is enough. I kept asking them if he could just be stressed from the new kitten l got in July. One vet said absolutely not! Another vet he saw said he sure can. So there you go. 2 vets, same practice, different responses. I took Chance home told him he had a week to snap out of it. I had to give him sub q fluids at home, make him eat calorie liquid crap and give him a pill to stimulate appetite. 1 week later he was fine!! All that wasted money! Had l just had a vet say well maybe its stress l wouldnt of had him have multiple test done to find answers! Its so frustrating. But def lessons learned in both situations.

 

[Antonio65]

Wow that is a lot of money. So very sorry the outcome wasnt what you thought it be. I was willing to spend a bit but knew my limit. I only work part time.

When I finished paying the last bill in August 2016, my bank account was dried out, probably I was even "under"...
When three months later we were fighting again against something bad, the first thing I told the oncologist was that I had no money anymore due to what we had gone through. The oncologist answered "You will pay me when you can, we have to think about your cat now.", so I paid the clinic some months later in six installments.

I had to give him sub q fluids at home, make him eat calorie liquid crap and give him a pill to stimulate appetite. 1 week later he was fine!! All that wasted money! Had l just had a vet say well maybe its stress l wouldnt of had him have multiple test done to find answers! Its so frustrating. But def lessons learned in both situations.

I understand you. The first two months of missed diagnoses for my Lola went with lots of useless meds, some of them were even very heavy and probably toxic, but we were trying the impossible.
It's frustrating because those vets let my and your cats suffer while trying to cure something that wasn't there. It's frustrating because they made us pay lots of money that we could have used better.

 

[chloechance]

So

When I finished paying the last bill in August 2016, my bank account was dried out, probably I was even "under"...
When three months later we were fighting again against something bad, the first thing I told the oncologist was that I had no money anymore due to what we had gone through. The oncologist answered "You will pay me when you can, we have to think about your cat now.", so I paid the clinic some months later in six installments.



I understand you. The first two months of missed diagnoses for my Lola went with lots of useless meds, some of them were even very heavy and probably toxic, but we were trying the impossible.
It's frustrating because those vets let my and your cats suffer while trying to cure something that wasn't there. It's frustrating because they made us pay lots of money that we could have used better.

Very nice your vet you do that. Vet care is so expensive. I paid out more money in one year in vet bills then l have paid out probably in a lifetime of my own medical!!
I was fortunate to raise $600 from friends and family l raffled off 2 gift baskets of goodies.
I hope to not have to walk into a vets office for a long time.

I got Chloe privately cremated she is supposed to be back next Tuesday. I know its going to be a flood of emotions. But l plan to take a small bit of her to the Bahamas in April. My girl deserves to be among the sandy white beaches